Piano player



C. F. STODDARD.

PIANO PLAYER.

FILED 1AN.19. 1910, RENv/ED JUNE 22,191a.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922,

Eswddafd,

Liv ifo Cigar/as E UNITED. STATES- parsa-ricarica.

Y., ASSIGNOB TO AMERICAN PIANO N E'W JERSEY.

PIANO PLAYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14,v 1922.

Application med January 19, 1910, Serial No. 538,888. Renewed .Tune 22, 1918. Serial No. 241,439.

To ali 'whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. S'roDDARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Piano Players, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying draW1ngs, 1s a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to automatic mea-ns for playing musical instruments such as pianos; and pertains more particularlyto means for governing and varying tone intensities.

Among other objects,- the invention is 1ntended to provide apparatus capable of governing the energy used for sounding a tone or tones, as for striking the strings o f a piano; and the invention contemplates s imple and stable, though accurate and effective, means to this end.

For illustration, the accompanying drawing shows one practicable embodiment of the invention employing suitable pneumatically governed devices in. cooperation with a piano action; but, as Will appear to those skilled in the art, the invention 1s susceptible of embodiment in various constructions and organizations other than that particularly shown and described herein.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a typical piano action, with operating .and governing means embodying the invention;

ig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a. perforated music sheet such as may be used in cooperation with the apparatus shown in eferring to the drawing, action, shown in its normal position of rest, comprises a key-controlled sticker B, to act on -a wippen I, a hammer C, damper E, string D, and other parts which may be those well-known in the art. To operate the action pneumatically a motor pneumatic F is provided, having a sticker H to act upon the Wippen I. A wind trunk 7 leads to the Wind chests of the motor pneumatics, each of which has a secondary valve 8, controlled by a primary valve 9 operated from the tracker bar G through a duct 10, in the usual manner.

The trunk 7 communicates with a regua typical p-iano lated exhaust chest l2. A lhigh exhaust chest 14 arranged for communication with the chest 12, may be connectedv by a trunk l5 with any source of pneumatic exhaust, such as feeder bellows of any practicable type.

Between the high exhaust chest 14 and the regulated exhaust chest l2 is a chamber 30,

'open at its lower extremity to the chest 14,

and communicating with t-he chestV 12 through suitable ports. The chamber 30 contains a piston valve 31, which governs communication between the two chests so as t0 subject the regulated exhaust more or less to the influence of high exhaust.

he stem 32 of the valve 31 projects upwardly through the top of the chamber 30, lnto a cylinder of graduated diameter. Within the cylinder, in the illustrative embodiment shown, is a unitary piston of graduated diameter corresponding in shape to the interior of the cylinder. Said piston comprises the three superposed cylindrical parts 34, 35 and 36, presenting respectively the acting areas y and z.

tension spring 37 connected to the piston stem 32, exerts an upward pull upon the latter. The tension of the spring may be adjusted or otherwise modified, as by a handle 38, to vary the said upward pull as hereinafter explained; but for the present this capacity for modification may be neglected and the upward pull by the spring may be considered substantially constant, disregarding the minute iuctuations in tension of the spring resulting from negligible elongation and contraction accompanying movement of the piston structure. This substantially uniform pull of the spring contributes to control the piston structure and valve 31 as presently described.

In discussing the various -pneumatic iniiuences brought to bear upon the piston structure, the so-called exhaust7 or air tension will be treated as having a positive pressure relative to a perfect vacuum of zero pressure. This mode of treatment is more convenient in explaining the operation of the piston structure than would be the case if exhaust were considered in the po ular sense of exerting a pull by suction as distinguished from a. push by pressure.

Duets 40, 41 and 42 enter respectively the cylinder chambers opposite the piston faces y and z. Each duct is controlled (as hereinafter explained) so as to admit to its cylinder chamber either atmospheric pressure, or regulated pressure from the chest 12; and the regulated pressure may be admitted to any one or more, or all, of the chambers while atmospheric pressure will be present in those chambers, if any, which do not contain regulated pressure. These pressures within the cylinder chambers act upwardly upon the piston faces w, `'y and a, and together with the upward pull of the sprmg 37, constitute the forces tending to move the piston structure upwardly. The high exhaust in chest 14 exerts some upward pressure upon the piston valve 31, which 1s so minute as to be negligible in the specific apparatus under discussion.

These upwardly directed forces are opposed by atmospheric pressure actmg downwardly upon the interior of the piston structure, which is open to atmosphere through a port 43.

In the illustrative apparatus the upwardly exposed piston areas substantially equal the downwardly exposed areas m, y and e. It, therefore, atmosphere be -admitted to all the cylinder chambers, its upward pressure on the areas y and z will be opposed and balanced by equal downward pressure of atmosphere u on equal areas. This leaves the spring 3g unopposed to lift the piston valve 31 and open the valve ports to the fullest extent thereby subjecting regulated pressure in the chest 12 to the maximum iniuence of high exhaust in the chest 14. Under these conditions notes are sounded with maximum loudness.

When the present invention is embodied in a construction which employs exhaust as distinguished from compressed air, the regulated exhaust or pressure is always less than atmospheric pressure. Consequently when regulated pressure is admitted to all the cylinder chambers, the upward pneumatic pressure on the piston structure is then at its minimum, being, of course, less than when atmosphere is admitted to any one or more of the cylinder chambers. Downward atmospheric pressure, being thus opposed by the minimum pneumatic upward pressure, substantially predominates and moves the piston structuredownwardly, the spring 3T having its tension adjusted so that its upward pull will be overcome more or leSs by said downward atmospheric pressure. This downward movement of the piston structure tends to close the valve ports between the chests 12 and 14 with the result that regulated pressure may be largely cut off from the influence of high exhaust in the chest 14. Under these conditions, i. e. when regulated pressure is admitted to all the cylinder chambers, notes are played with minimum loudness available in the specific apparatus illustrated in the drawings.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art, that the greater the piston area exposed to regulated pressure, the greater will be the predomination of downwardly acting atmospheric pressure and the greater will be the constriction ot' communication between the chests 12 and 14. ln other words, the reater the-piston area exposed to regulate pressure, the less is regulated pressure subjected to the influence of high exhaust and the less will be the intensity of sounded notes. Accordingly, the general operation of the cylinder and piston structures described above may be conveniently summarized thus admitting regulated pressure to a cylinder chamber diminishes intensity; admitting atmospheric pressure to a cylinder chamber increases intensity.

There is always some leakage of atmosphere to the chest 12 as, for instance, past the various valve mechanisms and from the motor pneumatics, such leakage tending constantly to increase regulated pressure and actually increasing it unless the leakage be fully compensated by exhaust through the chest 14 by way of the valve ports in the chamber 30. Under these circumstances, whenever the piston structure moves down wardly and thereby restricts the openings between the chests 12 and 14 the result is to increase regulated pressure. This increase in regulated pressure is, of course, communicated practically instantaneously to those cylinder chambers which contain regulated pressure. Consequently, whenever the piston Structure moves downwardly because of downward atmospheric pressure predominating over upward regulated pressure, the indirect result is to increase the upwardly acting regulated pressure and thereby to decrease the predominance of downward atmospheric pressure. The greater the extent of downward movement of the piston structure-the greater will be the described decrease in the predominance of downward atmospheric pressure.

In any instance the piston structure will move downwardly until the predominance of downward atmospheric pressure diminishes to such an extent that the upward pull of the spring balances the diminished predominance of downward atmospheric pressure, whereupon the piston structure comes to rest.

In like manner, whenever the piston structure moves upwardly to enlarge the openings between the chests 12 and 14, the effect is to diminish regulated pressure by exhaust through the chestl 14. This diminution in regulated pressure is communicated to those cylinder chambers which contain regulated pressure; and consequently the upward regulated pressure on the piston is diminished. In other words, the piston structure moves upwardly because of the predominance of posed forces tending always to balance each other and hold the piston structure, as it were, in suspension between them; that is to say, the specific apparatus tends constantly to establish a balancing equation between the opposed forces acting upon the piston.

Such movement of the piston structure as may'occur when that balancing equation is disturbed, takes place practically instantaneously so that a new balancing equation appropriate to the newly initiated conditions is immediately set up.

The actual variation of regulated pressure may result from a number of causes, or a combination of causes, such that the piston structure and valve 31 may or may not be moved to assist in a re-establishment of the pressure equation above referred to, which holds the piston structure at rest and in balance.

Normally, and even at a time when it is desired to maintain constant regulated pressure, some leakage of atmosphere to the chest 12, and various parts communicating therewith, may tend to` reduce the regulated tension in said chest, "whether or not any of the motor pneumatics F is in action. A reduction in regulated tension from such cause may be compensated to some extent by leakage between the high tension chest 14 and the chest 12, as by leakage past the piston valve 31. It, however, regulated pressure increases enough to disturb a prevailing pressure equation, there may result an upward movement of the piston structure, enlarging the openings between the chests 12 and 14 enough to permit high exhaust to restore the intended regulated pressure in chest 12.k Such action takes. place so promptly and quickly, that, in effect, it serves to maintain regulated tension substantially constant (until intentionally adliusted), rather than to restore it.

Each motor pneumatic F, when idle, contains atmosphere which tends to increase regulated pressure in the. chest 12, when the pneumatic is thrown into operation. Obviously, 'ifseveral motor pneumatics F act simultaneously there may be a considerable increase of regulated pressure. Ordinarily,

in the operation of the illustrative apparatus, the regulated pressure may be thus subjected to frequent fluctuations by the action of the motor pneumatics. Whenever such fluctuation so increases regulated pressure that a pressure equation is disturbed, the piston valve 31 may be moved to restore the equation as described. As already suggested, this restoring action takes place so quickly that it is rather a maintaining action in respect to its general effect upon the regulated pressure.

From the above it appears that whatever draughts are made upon the regulated pressure chest 12, from whatever cause, saidl pressure may be maintained always by the described balancing operation of the piston structure controlling communication between the chests 12 and 14. Immediately, however, when a deliberate, intentional change is made in the pistonarea exposed to regulated pressure, the pressure equation is temporarily disturbed, to be restored when a new and diierent regulated pressure is established.

lt will be noted that the regulating action of the piston struct re may serve merely to maintain the desireld, regulated pressure in spite of any drafts made thereupon, as for instance, by the motor pneumatics. That is to say, the regulation does not necessarily result from varying communication between the high exhaust chest and the regulated pressure chest. For instance, assume that the piston area acted upon by regulated pressure be so changed that a considerable increase in regulated pressure is demanded to re-establish the pressure equation. Assume further that this change in piston area be accompanied by the action of a considerable number of motor pneumatics F, which in eect alone suffices to increase the regulated pressure so as to re-establish the bal--l ancing pressure equation. Under such circumstances regulated pressure is changed from a. lower to a higher working level without making necessary any change in the communication between the two chests 12 and 14. Thus in greater or less degree, the mere utilization of regulated pressure in the chest 12, may cooperate with the deliberate variations of piston area acted upon by the regulated pressure, so that the control of communication between the chests exercised b f the piston valve may be, and frequently 1t will be, of supplemental and auxiliary eifect.

Hereinbefore a preferred form of regulating mechanism has been described. The manner in which the same may be governed to initiate different regulated tenslons will be next explained. Referring again to the drawing, the duct 4() connects the cylinder chamber opposite the piston area with a valve chamber 49.

In said chamber is a duplex valve 50, ar-

. tends the diaphragm of chamber 62a, ventetV the chamber 49 through a duct 51 to the regulated tension chest 12. The valve 50 is controlled by a diaphragm over a chamber 54 which communicates with a duct 56. A duplex valve 58 controls a port'from the duct 56 to atmosphere, and a second port from the duct 56 to a chamber 59 communicating by a duct 60 with the high exhaust chest 14. The valve 58 is controlled by a diaphragm over a chamber 62 which communicates by a duct 63 with a tracker vent T.

When the tracker vent T is open the diaphragm of chamber 62 is distended and the valve 58 elevated so as to vent the diaphragm chamber 54 to atmosphere'and distend its diaphragm to elevate the valve 50 and vent the duct to atmosphere. The converse of this operation which closes the duct 40 to at-v mosphere and opens it to regulated tension will be described hereinafter.

The parts just described are triplicated for controlling the ducts 41 and 42, the corresponding parts of the valve mechanism for the latter being indicated by the numerals 50, 51, etc., with indices a; for the valve mechanism for duct 41, and b for the valve mechanism for duct 42. \In the valve mechanism for duct 41 it is assumed that the duct 63 to the tracker vent Ta is open to atmosphere which dising chamber 54a to atmosphere and admit- -ting atmosphere to the lduct 41, past the valve l and to the cylinder chamber opposite the piston surface y.- Thus, whenever a tracker vent T, T*1L or Tb, is open, atmosphere is admitted to the corresponding cylinder chamber.

VJhen one of the valves 50, 50, 50h, is once opened by venting the corresponding tracker duct, the valve preferably continues open even though the tracker vent may be immediately closed. In the specific apparatus this results from the fact that once the valve 58, for instance, is opened to admit atmosphere to the diaphragm chamber 54, said valve 588L is held in that position by atmosphere. admitted past the valve 58 into a duct 7()a through a bleeder vent 72, and a duct 74a (shown in dotted lines),

which latter communicates with the dia-` phragm chamber 62a. The chamber 59a above the diaphragm communicates as described with the high exhaust chest 14. Thus so long as atmosphere is admitted through duct a to duct 74 the dia hragm of chamber 62l will remain disten ed and atmosphere will continue in the correspondvents T, Ta, and Tb which may be irrimediately closed if desired. When used with the illustrative apparatus, each such perforation has the effect of introducing atmosphere to a cylinder chamber, 'andeven after the tracker vent is closed, atmosphere will continue in the cylinder chamber until purposely exhausted at any desired subsequent time in a manner such' as that about to be described. f

The specific apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a single valve mechanism, controlled by a single tracker vent, which may cooperate with all or any of the three above described valve mechanisms, to negative the effect of opening one or more of the tracker vents T', Ta and Tb., This Single valve mechanism is shown at the right of 1. A tracker vent R communicates by its duct with adiaphragm chamber 82. The latter controls a duplex valve 84 which in its alternative positions admits atmosphere to a duet 86 or opens communication between said duct 86 and a duct 88 leading to the high exhaust chest 14. An extension of the duct 86 communicates with each of the three diaphragm chambers 90, 90a and 90b. Thus when atmosphere is admitted to the duct 86, past the valve 84, the diaphragms of the chambers 90, 90, and 90b are distended. In describing the effect of this operation, it is convenient to refer to chamber 90a and associated parts.

As already stated, the valve 58 is held in the open position shown, by the fact that atmosphere is present in the ducts 70a and 74a. When, however, the diaphragm of chamber 90a is distended, it lifts a disk valve 92 and closes communication between duct 70 and duct 74, thereb closing the latter from atmosphere. At t e same time the valve 92 opens communication between the duct 74 through the bleeder 72, with chamber 94a which is open to high exhaust through the duct 60a. In this manner the duct 74a is connected with high exhaust whichr bleeds the atmosphere from chamber 62EL thereby permitting valve 58*l to drop, shutting off atmosphere from the diaphragm chamber 54"L and throwing the latter into communication with the chamber 59 and the high exhaust chest 14 through the duct 60, When the diaphragm chamber 54 is thus exhausted by high exhaust, the valve 50EL is ermitted to drop shutting off atmosphere rom the cylinder duct 41 and throwing the latter into communication with the duct-51a leading to the regulated pressure chest 12. AIn this manner, merely by opening the tracker vent R, the duct 41 and its cylinder chamber y are closed to atmosphere and opened to regulated pressure.

The operation just described, s o far as concerns the specific illustrative mechanism, depends upon bleeding the diaphragm chamber 62a. If the tracker duct 63 be open through its vent T", at the time the vent R is opened to initiate the bleeding of diaphragm chamber 62, atmosphere will enter the vchamber 62a more rapidly than it can be exhausted therefrom by the described bleeding; therefore the effect of openin the vent R is negatived, and in such circumstances that valve 58a will remain open and atmosphere will -continue in the corresponding cylinder chamber.

Also if the tracker vent T, for instance, be open simultaneously, with the tracker vent R,tl1e latter will inaugurate a tendency to bleed the chamber 62 and keep the valve 58 closed in the position shown, but the simultaneous opening of the tracker vent Tv will admit atmosphere to the chamber 62 more rapidly than it can be exhausted by bleeding and therefore the valve 58 w1ll be lifted in spite of the opening of the tracker vent R.

From the above description it will be understood that whether or not the tracker vent R be open, the opening of any of the vents T, TP, T", will have its normal and usual effect to admit atmosphere to the appropriate chamber or chambers of the cylinder. This will be true if any vent T, Ta, T", be opened with or without simultaneously opening the tracker vent R.

On the other hand, if the vent Tabe opened and then closed (atmosphere being thereby admitted to a cylinder chamber) and the vent R be thereafter opened, the previous effect of opening vent Ta will be negatived and the cylinder chamber opened to regulated pressure.

The effect of opening and closing the various tracker ducts in the specific mechanism may be readily understood by referring to an illustrative form of perforated music sheet diagrammed in Fig. 2 in which are shown four lines' of perforations for govern ing the expression controlling tracker vents. The music sheet may be assumed to be travcling in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. The tracker Gr is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the vent Ta being open through thc perforation 100 in the sheet. All the other vents are closed. The perforations in the sheet for operating the motor pneumatics may be disregarded for brevity.

When the note sheet and tracker are related as shown in Fig. 2, the various valve mechanisms occupy exactly the positions shown in Fig. 1. If now the music sheet progresses in the direction of the arrow, perforation 101 will presently open the vent R; this will distend the diaphragm of chamber 82; open the duct 86 to atmosphere; admit atmosphere to diaphragm chamber 90a; lift valve 92; and throw the diaphragm chamber 62a in communication with the high exhaust chest 14, through the'duct 74, past the bleeder 72a, through the chamber 94a and duct 60a. This permits the valve 58a to drop and thereby the diaphragm chamber 54 is exhausted as described, With the final result that the cylinder duct 41 and chamber y are closedto atmosphere and opened to regulated pressure. In these circumstancesregulated pressure is present in all of the cylinder chambers.

`When the music sheet progresses further the perforation 102 opens the vent T and, as will be understood, thereby opens the duct 40 and cylinder chamber a: to atmosphere. Thereafter a perforation 103 and a perforation 104 register respectively and simultaneously with the vents R and Ta. The perforation 103 negatives the previous effect of the perforation 102 and opens the cylinder chamber to regulated pressure. The perforation 103 is ineffective, however, in respect to perforation 104 which opens the vent TEl and thereby admits atmosphere to the cylinder chamber y.

As the note sheet progresses further, perforations 105 and 106 open the vents T and T`D which admit atmosphere to the cylinder chambers and z. The previous effect of the perforation 104 endures, and therefore by reason of the three perforations 104, 105 and 106 atmosphere is present in all of the cylinder chambers.

Next a perforation 107 opens the vent R and simultaneously a perforation 108 opens the vent Ta. The effect of the perforation 107 is to negative the previous effect of both the perforations 105 and 106 and to open the cylinder chambers and .a to regulated pressure. The perforation 107 however, is ineffective in respect to perforation 108 which merely continues the previously established effect of the perforation 104 leaving the cylinder chamber Q/ still open to atmosphere.

Next perforations 109 and 110 reinstate atmosphere in the cylinder chambers and a and again all of the cylinder chambers are open to atmosphere. n

Next a perforation 111 opens the vent R at a time when all the other vents are closed and thereby negatives the effects of all three perforations 108, 109 and 110 with the result that all the cylinder chambers are closed to atmosphere and open to regulated pressure.

The preceding description will suffice to indicate the variety of combinations of perforations whereby atmosphere and regulated pressure may be alternated in one or more of the cylinder chambers with the resultant variations in regulated pressure and in the intensities of notes played thereby.

As will appear to those skilled in the art the usual note perforations may occur in the music sheet or may be related with the described eXpression-regulating perforations in an practicable manner, as* for instance b aligning or substantiall aligning, the a vance end of a note per oration with one or more ex ression perforations to establish the regu ated pressure in the'chest 12 for plying the note with desired intensity.

efenence may now be had to'the spring 37 shown in Fig. 1. If this s pring remain unadjusted with the substantially 'constant tension which has beeny assumed up\ to'the present time in this description, the v arious operations hereinbefore explalned will determine desired relative and absolute intensities of notes automatically, so that without any conscious or other regulation, a coinposition ma be played entirely automatically with al the desired shades of expression predetermined by the arrangement of expression perforations on the music sheet in relation to the note perforations. It may be desired, however, that some opportunity exist for consciously modifying t e expression, as for instance by manual control; and by means of the mechanism in the drawings or its equivalent, expression maybe controlled altogether consciously, to the exclusion of automatic control; or the conscious control may merely modify the automatic control; oi' the control may be wholly automatic and without conscious governance.

For instance, a note sheet such as that diagrammed in Fig. 2, properly perforated to play a composition with desired -expression, may cont-rol a complete automatic o eration of the apparatus. At the same time, this automatic operation may be modified by varying the tension ofthe spring 37, as by means ofthe handle 38 suitably connected to the spring. This handle, or any equivalent or lsubstitute agency, may be used or not as desired and consequently recomposition may be played partly with automatic expression control and partly with consciously modified expression control.

For another example, the apparatus is susceptible of use with a music sheet having no expression perforations Whatever so that the automatic control is dispensed with entirely. In such a case the cylinder chambers may all contain atmosphere or may all contain regulated tension. Nevertheless, the

piston valve 31 may be controlled throughl any suitable means as for instance, the spring 37.

In the operation of the described apparatus, communication between the high eX- haust chest 14 and the regulated pressure chest 12 may be so restricted -as to increase regulated pressure to such an extent that that latter will not properly operate the motor neumatics. To avoid this the apparatus s own in Fig. 1, may include'a fioating piston valve 115 mounted in a conduit entering the high exhaust chest 14 and communicating with the regulated pressure chest 12 by a port 116. This valve 115 normally closes ports 117 in the conduit. The piston valve 115 is preferably verned by a sprin 118 restn upon an a utment 119 adjusta le to vary 51e tension of the spring 118 by means of a screw 120. The spring 118 holds the piston valve 115 normally seated against an interior shoulder of the conduit and in position to close ports 117. lIt will be seen that the up er surface of the piston valve isv expose to regulated pressure; high exhaust is admitted to the lower surface of the iston valve through ports 121 in the conduit. It is evident that the greater downward pressure of regulated pressure on the top of the valve is opposed by the less pressure of hi h exhaust on the bottom of the valve and a so by the upward pressure of the spring on the bottom ofthe valve. The' spring is so adjusted that 'its pressure combined with that of high exhaust will hold the piston valve in position to close the ports 117 untilregulated pressure increases to a` certain maximum (i. e. its degree of exhaust is reduced to a certain minimum) when the valve is depressed and opens communication between the two chests sufiiciently to reduce the regulated pressure to a desired oint. Obviously by means of the feature o adjustment exemplified by the screw 120, the apparatus can be arranged so that the regulated pressure can never in crease above a certain maximum; and by this means it is possible to arrange that no notes shall be played at less than a desired intensity.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific construction and organization described for illustration. On the contrary the described apparatus may be variously changed, modified, and reorganized without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims. g

Claims.

1. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression-governing means for varying by perceptible incrementsthe degree of power applied to the playing actions; and supplementary expressiongoverning means for varying the degree of power applied to the playing actions by substantially continuous progression, said two expression-governing means being constructed and arranged for concurrent operation.

2. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression-governing means for varying the degree of power applied to the playing actions by perceptible increments; and manually operable additional expression-governing means to vary the degree of power applied to the playing actions. by substantially continuous progression.

3. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; ainain source of power for operating said playing actions; expression-governing means for varying the degree ot' power applied to the playing actions by perceptible increments; a tracker and means connected therewith for automatically controlling said expression-governing means; and additional manually operable expression-governing means for varying the degree of power applied to the playing actions by substantially continuous progression. 4. An instrument of the character .describedcomprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression-governing means for varying by perceptible increments the degree of power applied to said playing actions; and means for producing substantially continuous cresendo enfec-ts concurrently with variations by said expression-governing mechanism.

5. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; regulating means for varying the degree of power applied to the playing actions; means to modify the regulating action thereof by perceptible increments to produce incremental changes in playing intensity; and additional means for varying said regulating action by substantially continuous progression.

6. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression-governing means for varying the degree of power applied to the playing actions including means for applying opposed forces .for controlling the said expression governing means; means for varying some of said forces to vary the degree of said power by perceptible increments; and means for varying some of said forces to vary said power by substantially continuous progression.

7. An instrument of the character described comprising; in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; a regulator, including a spring, for varying the degree of power applied to the playing actions; means for varying the regulating action thereof by perceptible increments; and means acting upon said spring to vary said regulation by substantially continuous progression.

8. An instrument of the character described; comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; means to control the degree of powerapplied to the playing actions;

and expression-governing apparatus cooperating with said means constructed and arrange to vary the degree of said power by substantially Continous pro ression and also by perceptible increments during such progression.

9.-An instrument of the character described; comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; and expressiongoverning apparatus constructed and arranged to produce a crescendo and an incremental intensity change during the crescendo.

10. An instrument of the character described, comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; regulating means intermediate the playing actions and said source of power; and expression-governing means of varying the regulation thereby, constructed and arranged to produce a crescendo and incremental intensity changes during the crescendo.

11. An instrument of the character described, comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main A'source of power for operating said playing actions; expression-governing means to govern the degree of power applied to said playing actions; means to apply opposed forces tending to hold the expression-governing means Y in balance; means to vary the resultant of said opposed forces by perceptible increments; and means to vary `said resultant by substantially contlnuous progression.

12. An instrument of the character described, comprising; in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operat ing said playing actions; expression-govern ing means to govern the degree of power applied to said playing actions; means operatively connected with said expression-g0v erning means constructed and arranged to produce opposed forces having a resultant for governing said expression-governing means; and expression-varying apparatus for varying said resultant incrementally or by substantially continuous progression or by a combination of the two.

13. An iitrument of the character described, comprising; in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; a throttle valve for varying the degree of power applied to the playing actions; means for applying governing force to said throttle valve; and expression-governing apparatus for varying said force by perceptible increments or by substantially continuous progression; and separately operable controlling means for said expression-governing means. i

14. An instrument of the character described, comprising, in combination7 playing actions; a main source of power for operat- J ing said playin pressure; means'to vary such area .so eirposed to pneumatic pressure; and additional means to vary the regulation by said regulating means. '4v/ J 15. An instrument of the .character described, comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating/said plafying actions; ex ression-` verning means or varying the egree o power applied to said playing actions; 4a tracker;V

ap aratus having connection with a plura ity of tracker vents, to produce an increment of chan in the degree of said power correspon ing to each said tracker vent; and means having connection with4 a` 17. An instrument of the character 'de scribed comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operat-4 'ing said playing actions; expression-governin means to vary the degree of power applied to said playing actions; a plurality of means operatively connectedto said expression-governing means to produce a plurality of incremental changes in playing intensity; a sin' le means to negative operation of said plura ity of means; a tracker; and controlling means connectin each of said pluralityof means and sai single means with a corresponding tracker vent.

18.'An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression-governin meansto vary the degree of wer applied to said playing actions; a p uralityv of meansl operative y connected with saidv expression-governing means and operable singly or permutatively, for producing incremental changes in playing intensities; and a single means to negative operation of all said plurality of means.

19. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression-govern- .in means to vary the degree of ower ap plied to said playing actions; a p urality of valve mechanisms for governing the ei:-Y

actions; regulating meansA having a variab e area exposed' to\pneumatic producean incremental change in playingl intensity; means separatelA tocontrol sai valve mechanisms; and ad itional means for controlling -said valve mechanisms, common ,to all thereof.

`20. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions' a main source of power for operating sai playing actions; expression-governin means to'vary the degree of power applied to said p g actions; a plurality of valve mechanisms separately operable to ggvern `the expression-governing means to roduce 'different playing intensities; means or Separately controlling said plurality of valve mechanisms; and anotherv valve mechanism for controlling said plurality of valve mechanisms. f 21. An instrument of the character de'- scribed comprising, in combination, playing actions' a main source of power for operating said playing actions; means for varying the degree of power applied to said playing actions; a tracker havinga plurality of vents corresponding each to an incremental change in playing intensity and a `single tracker -scribed comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said pla ing actions; expressionvern-r ing means orvarying the degree o power applied to said playing actions; a plurality of means operatively connected to said expressionoverning meansfor producing respective c anges in playing intensity; and a single means cooperab e with each of said plurality to negative operation thereof.

23. An instrument of the character described comprising,'in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression-governing means to vary the degree of power applied to said playing actions; a pneumatic device for governing said expression-governing means; a tracker; means governed from the tracker for exhausting said pneumatic device; and additional means separately governed from the tracker for controllin said pneumatic device with a pneumatic e fect predominating said exhausting.-

24. An instrumentl of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression-governing means to vary the degree of power applied to said playing actions; a valve and pneumatic governing device therefor, to

govern the expression-governing means; means for bleeding said pneumatic device;

and additional means for governing said neumatic device with pneumatic effect pregominating said bleeding.

25. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; regulating means operating intermediate said source of power and the playing actions; expression-governing means to vary the regulation by said regulating means, including a pneumatic device; means for bleeding said pneumatic d evice; and means to govern the pneumatic condition in said device to predominate said bleeding.

26. An vinstrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power f or operating said playing actions regulating means operating intermediate said source of power and the playing actions; a valve to vary the regulation by said regulating means; a pneumatic device to overn the valve; a tracker; means controller? from the tracker forbleeding said pneumatic device; and additional means separately controlled from the tracker for governin said pneumatic device with pneumatic e ect predominating said bleed-v An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power f or operating said playing actions regulating means operating intermediate said source of power and the playing actions; a valve to vary the regulation of said regulating means; a pneumatic device to govern the valve; and opposed pneumatic means concurrently operable to control said pneumatic device, one said means when operated, predominating the other.

28. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression-governing means to vary the degree of power applied to said playing actions; a pneumatic device operatively connected to the expression-governing means for governingthe saine; and opposed pneumatic means concurrently operable to control said pneumatic device, one said means, when operated, predominating the other.

29. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; and expressiongoverning apparatus constructed and arranged to produce a crescendo andan incremental intensity change without interruptingthe crescendo.

30. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; an expressiongoverningk apparatus constructed and arranged to produce a crescendo and to accent a note or notes during the crescendo.

3l. In an apparatus of the character described, tlie combination of playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression governing means to vary by perceptible increments the degree of power applied to the Vplaying actions; a plurality of valve m for said expression governing means/adapted each to establish an incremental change in the degree of power; a single valve means common to said plurality to negative the operation thereof; a tracker; connections from said valve means to the tracker; and a co-operating note sheet provided with note sounding perforations, a plurality of perforations for said plurality of valve means and a single perforation for said single valve means common thereto.

32. In an apparatus of the character described, tli'e combination of playing actions;4

a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression governing means to vary by perceptible increments the degree of power applied to the playing actions; a plurality of valve means for said expression governing means adapted each to establish an incremental change in the degree of power; a single valve means common to said plurality to negative the operation thereof; a tracker; and a co-operatiiig note sheet provided with the usual note sounding perforations and expression controlling perforations including a plurality of expression setting perforations and an expression cancelling perforation.

33. In an apparatus of the character described, tlie combination of playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression governing means to vary by perceptible increments the degree of power applied to the playing actions; a plurality of valve means for said expression governing means adapted each to establish an incremental change in the degree of power; a single valve means common to said plurality to negative the operation thereof; a tracker; and a evo-operating note sheet provided with the usual note sounding perforations and expression controlling perforations including a plurality of expression setting perforations, and an expression cancelling perforation to negative the effect of any expression setting perforations not in alignment therewith transversely of the note sheet. A

34. In an apparatus of the character described, tlie combination of playing actions; a main sourceof power for operating said playing actions; expression governing means to vary by perceptible increments the degree of power applied to the playing actions; a

plurality of expression setting means operable singly 4or in combination to establish distinct grades of playing intensity; an expression cancelling means common to all said expression setting means to negative the operation thereof; a tracker; connections from said expression setting and expression cancelling means to the tracker; and a note sheet provided with expression setting perforations and a single series of expression cancellingy perforations to negative the operation of all preceding expression setting perforations.

35. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression governing means to vary by perceptible increments the degree of power applied to the playing actions; a plurality of expression setting means operable singly or in combination to establish distinct grades of playing intensity; an expression cancelling means common to all said expression setting means to negative the operation thereof; a tracker; connections from said expression setting and expression cancelling means to the tracker; and a note sheet provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending series of expression setting perforations and a single longitudinally extendin series of expression cancelling perforatlons, any expression cancelling perforation negativing the effect of all preceding expression setting erforations.

36. In an apparatus op the character described, the combination of playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression governing means to vary by perceptible increments the degree of power applied to the playing actions; a plurality of expression setting means operable singly or in combination to establish distinct grades of playing intensity; an expression cancelling means common to all said expression setting means to negative the operation thereof; a tracker; connections from said expression setting and ex. pression cancellingl means to the tracker; and a note sheet provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending series of expression setting perforations and a single longitudinally extending series of expression cancelling perforations, any ex ression cancelling perforation being ine ective with respect to expression setting perforations in transverse alignment therewith.

37. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; expression governing means to vary the degree of power applied to said playing actions; a plurality of means operatively connected to said expression governing means to produce a plurality of incremental changes in playing intensity; a single means to negative operation of said-plurality of means; a tracker; controlling means connecting each of said plurality of means and said single means with a corresponding tracker vent; and a note sheet provided with a plurality of series of perforations to control said plurality of means and a single series of perorations to control said single means.

38. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; means for varying the degree of owerlapplied to said playing actions; a trac er having a plurality of vents corresponding each to an incremental change in playing intensity and a single tracker vent corresponding to the reverse of all said incremental chan es; means operatively connecting said trac er vents with the expression governing means; and a note sheet having a plurality of expression controlling perorations to 'produce said incremental changes by the opening of said plurality of tracker vents respectively and a single series of expression controlling perforations yto produce reverse changes by the opening of said single tracker vent.

39. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, playing actions; a main source of power for operating said playing actions; means for varying the degree of power applied to said playing actions; a tracker having a lplurality of vents corresponding each to an incremental change in playing intensity and a single tracker vent corresponding to the reversa of all said incremental changes; means oper atively connecting said tracker vents with the expression governing means; and a note sheet having a plurality of expression controlling perforations to produce said incremental changes by the opening of said pluralit of tracker vents respectively and a sing e series of expression controlling perforations to negative the effect of any one or all of the expression controlling perforations not in alignment therewith.

40. In a self-playing musical instrument, an expression-governing device including a pneumatic, a spring normally opening said pneumatic with a force suicient to counteract that of the air tension therein necessary to produce a certain tone effect, separate pneumatics for opposing the action of said spring, and means for energizing said lastnamed pneumatics hindividually and collectively.

41. In a self-playing musical instrument, the combination with a wind-inducing device having means for communication with a sound-producing action, of means subject to operation by the air tension of said device for throttling such communication, and a sprin opposing the operation of the lastname means with a force substantially equal to -thatof the air-tension required to produce loud tone effects.

42. In a self-playing musical instrument a pneumatic having means for communication with a wind-inducing device and a soundproducing action and subject to operation by air tension therein, means actuated by said pneumatic for throttling communication with the sound'- producing action, and a spring opposing the action of said pneumatic under a force substantially equal to that of the air tension required to produce loud tone effects.

43. In an automaticmusical instrument the combination of a plurality of pneumatic control devices, a plurality of valve mechanisms for said pneumatic devices, a tracker, means connecting each of said valve mechanisms with the tracker whereby the same may be separately operated, a valve mechanism common to all said control devices and means connecting the same with the tracker whereby said devices may be jointly operated from the tracker.

44. In an automatic musical instrument the combination of a plurality of pneumatically controlled devices; a plurality of valve mechanisms separately operable to govern individually the said devices, means for separately controlling said plurality of valve mechanisms; and another valve mechanism for controlling said plurality of valve mechanisms.

45. In an automatic musical instrument the combination of a plurality of pneumatically controlled devices; a tracker; a valve mechanism for each of said plurality of devices and each having connection with a corresponding tracker vent; a single valve mechanism having connection with said plurality of valve mechanisms and also a connection with a single tracker vent; a control sheet having a pluralit of series of perforations to operate said7 plurality of valve mechanisms and a single series of perforations to negative the effect of any selected perforation inl any one of said series.

46. Expression controlling mechanism for a pneumatically operated musical instrument comprising, in combination, a pneumatically controlled regulating device, controlling means therefor to produce a plurality of pla ing intensities differing from one another y perceptible increments, and additional concurrently operable controlling means to vary the expression effects produced by operation of the first mentioned controlling means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

C ARLES F. STODDARD.

Witnesses:

GEO. E. PERDUIN, Frommer. I. SPRoU'r. 

